TORONTO, July 8 (Reuters) - Toronto's main stock market
index was lower on Friday morning as disappointing U.S. jobs
data for June hit sentiment, but the blow was softened by
robust gold-mining issues, which flourished in a flight to
safety.

Figures showed U.S. employment growth ground to a halt in
June, dousing hopes the economy would regain momentum in the
second half of the year. [ID:nOAT004829]

The U.S. data contrasted sharply with Canadian employment
figures for June, which showed 28,400 jobs were created,
compared with the 15,000 expected by markets. The Canadian
unemployment rate was unchanged at 7.4 percent.
[ID:nN1E767019]

"The economic environment is very different between the two
countries," said Ian Nakamoto, director of research at
MacDougall, MacDougall & MacTier.

Energy shares were the main drag in Toronto, falling 1.1
percent as the price of U.S. crude oil lost nearly 3 percent as
markets reacted to the bleaker U.S. economic outlook. Top
decliners included Canadian Natural Resources CNQ.TO, down
2.7 percent at C$44.54, while Suncor Energy SU.TO lost 0.8
percent to C$38.90.

Offsetting the energy-induced slide were the gold miners,
which advanced with a rally in precious metal prices spurred by
the worries over the U.S. economy.
Continued...